Air Pollution and Baldness

Air Pollution and Baldness

"While the link between air pollution and serious diseases such as cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cardiovascular disease are well established, there is little to no research on the effect of particulate matter exposure on the human skin and hair in particular."
"Our research explains the mode of action of air pollutants lead to hair loss."
"While it is difficult to escape ambient pollution, limiting time walking on busy streets, especially during rush hour, should help to reduce exposure."
"If you are exercising outdoors, try to do so in areas that are less polluted and do not spend too much time waiting at traffic hot spots such as traffic lights."
Dr.Hyuk Chul Kwon, Future Science Research  Centre, South Korea

A new study appears to confirm that air pollution may be the cause of premature adult baldness in its finding that fine particulate matter emitted by vehicles damaged skin that holds hair follicles in place on the human scalp. Laboratory tests on human cells indicated levels of the critical proteins required for hair to grow and be retained to be impacted with exposure to pollution particles. Simply put, the more exposure to those particles, the greater diminished capacity of proteins produced, leading to hair loss.

The latest study concluded with a series of laboratory tests, is the first to clarify that such a risk to the surface of the body exists, capping a growing body of evidence showing that tiny particles have the capacity to damage internal health by entering the bloodstream through the lungs. The researchers felt a likely recourse could be the choice to exercise indoors instead of outdoors in polluted cities, to prevent hair loss or to reduce the incident of hair loss.

Human follicle dermal papilla cells (HFD-PCs) were exposed to various concentrations of PM10-like -- particulate 10 micrometres of less in diameter -- dust and diesel particulate and after the passage of a day researchers performed a process to detect levels of specific proteins in the cells, with the results showing the presence of PM10 and diesel particulate-decreased levels of Beta-catenin, responsible for hair growth. Also revealed was the levels of three other proteins -- cyclin D1, cyclin E andCDK2, responsible for hair growth and retention, decreased by PM10, in a "dose-dependent" manner.

Pollution, impacting health and hair.  Getty Images

Men in their 20s were found to be going bald -- through recent research in China -- sooner than had previous generations. While balding typically is associated with aging, an increasing number of millennials in the United States admit to experiencing hair loss -- and eventually it is expected that two-thirds of all men will be affected. The most influential known cause of baldness is genetic inheritance; now circulating air pollution can be added as another potent influencer.

Burning of fossil fuels, including gas, diesel and other solid fuels such as coal, oil and biomass, along with industrial activities such as building, mining and manufacturing all add to the sources of producing circulating particulate matter in the atmosphere.

"Our research looked at the science behind what happens when the cells found at the base of hair follicles are exposed to common air pollutants."
"The research was undertaken in a laboratory and further research needs to be undertaken to understand just how quickly this affects people regularly exposed to pollutants in their day-to-day lives."
"It is possible to hypothesize that at certain levels of exposure this could lead to baldness, but further population-based research needs to be undertaken to confirm this."
Dr.Hyuk Chul Kwon